Role of Caudal Epidural Steroid in the Management of Low Back Pain in Telangana Population, India

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition seen in adult patients causing significant functional and
psychological disability in addition to the variable amount of pain.
Method: Every patient was studied with x-rays, MRI of lumbosacral region and degree of pain was assessed by
VAS scale. Routine blood investigations were done in every patient to rule out any otherpossible causes for this
condition.
Results: 95 patients with LBP were included in this study. Among these 16 (16.8%) either had annular tears or
no abnormality in MRI leading to acute back pain, 14 (14.7%) had spondylolisthesis, 25 (26.5%) had lumbar canal
stenosis, 40 (42.1%) had degeneration of disc. As per VAS (Visual Analogue Score) at 3rd month -14 patients of Acute
LBP, 12 patients with spondylolisthesis, 13 patients with lumbar canal stenosis, 26 patients with degenerative disc
disease had significant improvement.
Conclusion: Present study used X-rays, MRI and VAS analogue Scorein addition to systematic clinical examination
for evaluation of the low back pain patients. Patients who were resistant to conservative measures were treated
with epidural steroid injection before subjecting them to any surgical intervention. Thisis important for the
Orthopedicians to treat such patients efficiently with minimal invasion without subjecting them to more invasive
measures like open surgical procedures.